Future M Cars to have Turbo 4 and 6's...

[smonkbmw]

Did we forget the current 135i already has a 300hp twin-turbo inline 6 and a nice M Package available? What's all the fuss over a silly 4 cylinder?

Seems like a move in the wrong direction. If I wanted a 4 cylinder I'd buy a Honda, not a $70,000 BMW flagship sports car. I expect that to have a high performance V8.

look where the m3 has come from and compare it to what it is today. its pretty sad really that to keep up with mercedes and audi they have to make the car heavier and then add more power. its so far away from its roots its disgusting really. the M cars are for motorsport competition not luxury and comfort highway cruising. thats what the 7series is for.

[Hallen]

It's more than just a marketing direction though. You can't make a car today that weighs what the E30 did and still meet the safety requirements. Well, you can, I suppose, but you would need carbon fiber everything and no amenities. The cost would be outrageous.

The smaller, turbo engines, will allow them to move the engine back in the car, and maybe lower. The turbo gives them the power while not giving up the mileage.

To make smaller, NA engines do the same thing makes you shoot for too high an RPM range. It isn't very drivable and it is a maintenance nightmare.

[Edev]

look where the m3 has come from and compare it to what it is today. its pretty sad really that to keep up with mercedes and audi they have to make the car heavier and then add more power. its so far away from its roots its disgusting really. the M cars are for motorsport competition not luxury and comfort highway cruising. thats what the 7series is for.

Exactly. They should make a modern e30m3..as in the e30m3s power to weight ratio. It was agile, quick, and got the job done. I'd like to see a near gutted e92 m3. I think the e46m3 was the last of the greatest M3s. I love them oh so dearly.

[Raxe]

The E90 M3 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E30 M3. (0.11hp/lb)

The E60 M5 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E90 M3. (0.13hp/lb)

The E90 335i has .09hp/lb

The E30 M3 has .07hp/lb

[Edev]

The E90 M3 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E30 M3. (0.11hp/lb)

The E60 M5 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E90 M3. (0.13hp/lb)

E30 M3 is roughly .07hp/lb

Oops :) I didn't know the actual power to rate ratio. Basically, what I was trying to say was that they need to slim down the new cars BMW are producing.

[Erick]

By the way, I took the time to read the article and I have something else to share:

Although the idea of a V6-powered Bimmer will surely send the marque's faithful into bouts of rage, weight reduction is the future, and to us, it's music to our ears.

EAD AUTOBLOG!

If BMW ever falls to the V6 crew, shit will hit the fan.

And on power to weight ratio..... let's look at muscle cars shall we? 5000lb Free Willys with tons of power. Great handling cars aren't they? P/W ratio is great though.

- Erick

[Edev]

By the way, I took the time to read the article and I have something else to share:



EAD AUTOBLOG!

If BMW ever falls to the V6 crew, shit will hit the fan.

And on power to weight ratio..... let's look at muscle cars shall we? 5000lb Free Willys with tons of power. Great handling cars aren't they? P/W ratio is great though.

- Erick

They cannot produce a V6! NOOO. :hitler:

[Nick12908]

They cannot produce a V6! NOOO. :hitler:

I like all the ideas in that article until I saw "V6". :letitout: I will go on a rampage :curse:

[Beach Bum]

I forsee a mass gathering of BMW enthusiasts to fabricate their own line of I6 motors if BMW goes to a V6.

[Edev]

I like all the ideas in that article until I saw "V6". :letitout: I will go on a rampage :curse:

I forsee a mass gathering of BMW enthusiasts to fabricate their own line of I6 motors if BMW goes to a V6.

It's complete BS. I'm mad. I'm going to bed. BMW better make the right choice.

[smonkbmw]

The E90 M3 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E30 M3. (0.11hp/lb)

The E60 M5 has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E90 M3. (0.13hp/lb)

The E90 335i has .09hp/lb

The E30 M3 has .07hp/lb

and? who cares? motorsport competition is not always won by pure power. the point is lost in todays m cars, thats a pure fact.

[shiftbmw]

Excited about the 4 banger turbo M motor...maybe a worthy swap into my M3...I'm a half purist and that will keep it half pure...

[Raxe]

BMW is trying to sell cars. They need to sell cars or they will go out of business. A gutted car with no sound deadening, no stereo and no power anything is not going to sell very well at all. Put an $80,000 price tag on it and it will sell even less. Modern cars are heavier than old cars, it's a fact that needs to be accepted at least until there is a major breakthrough in materials. They have a lot of reinforcement, safety features and computers that old cars were not required to have. Even the E46 M3 CSL weighed more than 3000lbs, how much further can BMW strip a car than that and still hope to sell any?

The reality is the only ones who really care about BMW's "motorsport heritage" are us, the enthusiasts who buy and modify old cars. Even if BMW listened and somehow built a "modern E30 M3", very few of us could or would actually buy it anyway. Personally I'm not paying $80,000 for a car with manual windows and no radio.

[z31maniac]

You can't make a car today that weighs what the E30 did and still meet the safety requirements.

Mini Cooper S.

[decay]

Mini Cooper S.

Smart ForTwo? ~1800lbs... extreme example, yes, just sayin'. you've got another half-ton of room to make it e30-sized with.